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Now police are hunting for the attacker who struck on Monday afternoon in Manchester.

The man is described as white, of large build, with a moustache and a goatee beard.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman urged any witnesses or anyone with information to contact them.

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The boy was grabbed as he made his way home from school

A spokesman said: “The young boy was on White Moss Road, Blackley when he was followed egressing the bus by a male who had then grabbed him from behind.

“The offender put his hand over the boy’s mouth and tried to carry him away.

“Luckily, local residents managed to stop the male and the offender dropped the boy and ran away.

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The 10-year-old had just got off a bus

“investigations are ongoing and patrols around this area will be increased.”

The terrifying incident comes just days after parents were put on high alert after men in white vans were seen trying to abduct boys in separate incidents within miles of each other in Kent.

School chiefs are also on guard after the police revealed the incidents took place last Tuesday and Wednesday.

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Greater Manchester Police is investigating

Another incident was said to have happened on Friday at Hayesbrook School in Tonbridge, when two men wearing balaclavas approached a 12-year-old.

In the first incident the transit van pulled up at the side of the road before a terrified 10-year-old was ordered to get in.

The boy ran off and told his parents, who called the police.

The next day another 12-year-old boy was chased by what police believe to be the same man at 3.40pm.

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Police in Kent are also investigating after a man in a white van approached boys

Witnesses saw the incident where the man jumped out the white van and tried to grab the boy, who had left 1,100-pupil Hugh Christie secondary school in Tonbridge, Kent, before travelling on a bus to Sevenoaks.

They say the driver “slammed on his brakes” before running after the boy, who managed to escape.